more nova scotia youth turning to kids help phone overnight, text data shows
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kids help phone president and ceo rebecca shields.
as more issues cause concerns for young people in nova scotia, they are increasingly turning to the kids help phone for assistance, especially at night and by text messaging.
the national service recorded a 26 per cent increase in people in this province reaching out by text in the overnight hours in the first six months of this year compared to 2025. the increase in halifax was 18 per cent.
kids help phone president and ceo rebecca shields said tuesday that the list of reasons for young people feeling overwhelmed is growing all the time, and that is driving the increase in requests to talk.
“i wish it was just awareness,” shields said.
“because it’s been so pervasive all across canada, young people reaching out – especially at night – tells us there have been some material changes in the lives of young people and that they’re struggling.”
shields said that for many people, the kids help phone is the only resource available to them at night when they are most likely to feel they need support.
she said that when talking to members of the organization’s youth council, they are telling her that the spike at night is because that’s when young people are alone after a day of school, work, sports or other activities.
“whatever might have been building up through the day, they start to think about it, or their parents may not be in the room and they’re able to reach out and talk to us, and that’s when they need help,” shields said. “they may not have any other time that they can be alone.”
anxiety, stress, relationship issues are top concerns among youth
more than three-quarters of people who call the kids help phone (by any means) say that they have never talked to anyone else about the issue they’re calling about.
“this is about them seeking help and trying to grapple with really tough feelings and issues,” shields said.
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relationship issues, anxiety, stress, suicidal thoughts and depression are the most common things young people are looking for help with, shields said.
the increased use of the service has been progressive, she said.
“there is no doubt in my mind … that the complexity of all of our lives has been increasing, whether we are worried about geopolitical issues, changes in the climate, economic opportunity, school … the reality is that young people are most vulnerable to these, far more than their parents, because they’re the ones looking forward with no control.”
the increase in requests for help in nova scotia “should be a wake-up call across canada,” shields said.
the national increase in texts was 24 per cent, and someone reaches out on average every 90 seconds.
there are 1,500 volunteer crisis responders in the organization who receive calls and texts.
“we can’t just let young people suffer without support,” shields said.
“we have to make sure we have what we need to pick up every call and every text message when they need us.”
if you are in need of assistance, kids help phone can be reached 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-668-6868. the phone service is also offered in more than 100 languages including ukrainian, russian, pashto, dari, mandarin and arabic with the help of trained interpreters. text messaging is available by texting ‘talk’ to 686868. more resources are available online at kidshelpphone.ca. in an emergency, call 9-1-1, and the suicide crisis helpline is 9-8-8.
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